Centre Manager, Nshwaasnangong
Status: Full-time, permanent
Location: Nshwaasnangong Child Care & Family Centre, London, ON
Hours: 35 hours/week
Paid Time Off: 3 weeks of vacation, plus sick days, spiritual/cultural leave, birthday
Benefits: Comprehensive health, dental and more
Pension: HOOPP (defined benefit plan)
Posting Date: January 4, 2024
Deadline: January 18, 2024

Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) is a diverse, multiservice Indigenous health and wellness agency, who has recently embarked on a new initiative and extended its services in the field of early learning and childcare. Guided and supported by the Journey Together Indigenous planning committee, SOAHAC is the operator and licensee of Nshwaasnangong.

Nshwaasnangong is a place for Indigenous young children and families to honour, rekindle, and express their identities as Indigenous Peoples; where kindness and compassion helps everyone to have a sense of belonging; where we nurture our well-being, while living in sync with community and all creation, where we engage deeply with questions and possibilities.

The Child Care at Nshwaasnangong offers licensed childcare for up to 88 children ages 0-6 years of age old. The adjoining Family Centre is a place to connect with opportunities offered for young children, families, and youth, including ceremonies, land-based learning, knowledge exchange and community supports. Nshwaasnangong is located at 449 Hill Street in London, Ontario.

Reporting to the Director of Nshwaasnangong (or designate), the Centre Manager, Nshwaasnangong will lead all aspects related to the delivery of licensed childcare at Nshwaasnangong.

The Centre Manager, Nshwaasnangong is a kind and forward-thinking leader who champions the revitalization of Indigenous languages and cultures within the early years. In overseeing the day-to-day programs of a licensed childcare Centre, the Manager focusses on wholistic relationships, Indigenous pedagogy, community wellbeing, staffing needs, professional development, policy, and enrollment.

Responsibilities:
• Identifies innovative business practices that contribute to the overall sustainability of the licensed child care and family centre operations at Nshwaasnangong;
• Enrolls families and supports them with seeking resources to meet the financial needs of licensed child care;
• Creates systems to manage invoices, payments and services;
• Administers the fee subsidy process for Nshwaasnangong Child Care, including attendance reporting, confirmation of spaces for families, supporting families in completing subsidy applications;
• Maintains up to date family accounts that support the payment of child care fees;
• Maintains budgets determined to support the financial viability of the child care centre;
• Prepares reports to funders, the municipality and the board and CEO re: budgets and financial viability of the Centre;
• Actively seeks out additional financial opportunities and resources, including writing grant applications;
• Develops policies and procedures that meet health and safety requirements for licensed child care and a large community space;
• Supports the Family Centre Supervisor with the development of partnership agreements between SOAHAC and partner agencies that will ensure the safe use of the space for activities, programs and services that align with the values and principles of Nshwaasnangong;
• Develops channels of communication within SOAHAC to streamline referrals and partnered program opportunities;
• Identifies and uses existing technologies that support data collection and reporting;
• Manages policies with SOAHAC’s existing programs and services to ensure congruence with policy and practice where applicable;
• Creates efficient and secure systems for the storage of all relevant health, banking and personal information required for registration;
• Collects information and works with HR to secure and access documentation required for staff in regards to accreditation, CPICs, First Aid, CPR, WHIMIS and any other relevant documentation required for licensing and employment;
• Coordinates contracts for services of the Family Centre site in collaboration with Child Care and Family Centre Managers;

Requirements:
• Post-secondary diploma or degree in Business Management or Administration or equivalent education and experience
• Minimum five years management experience, preferably in administration and operations in Child Care setting;
• Willingness to participate in ongoing Indigenous training, teachings and ceremonies;
• Obtain/ maintain a clean and current vulnerable sector police check as a condition of employment;
• Valid government issued driver’s license and/ or access to reliable transportation;
• Must meet SOAHAC requirements for travel and use of SOAHAC vehicles;
• Up-to-date immunizations and records;

Experience and Knowledge:
• Demonstrated experience in administration and financial management;
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning;
• Demonstrated experience working in a culturally appropriate service model for First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples;
• Demonstrated experience in a regulated environment with multiple accountabilities;
• Demonstrated experience in policy writing and development;
• Demonstrated experience in writing successful grant applications;
• Experience working with funders to provide timely and accurate reporting on financial investments;
• Demonstrated experience in records management;
• Demonstrated experience communicating policies and procedures, approaches and activities to others;
• Demonstrated ability to think outside of the box and be a solution focussed problem solver;
• Ability to monitor, assess and support the unique needs of a growing urban Indigenous community;
• Proven ability to manage budgets and achieve program outcomes;
• Ability to work towards deadlines with minimum supervision;
• Must have excellent working knowledge of financial and accounting software along with Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.);

This job may require additional responsibilities and duties as assigned by Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre.

SOAHAC values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer; however, hiring preference will be given to qualified Indigenous applicants. SOAHAC is committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please advise Human Resources.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please forward your cover letter and resume to:
Email: [email protected]
Subject line: Centre Manager, Nshwaasnangong
Or mail to: Human Resources
Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre
493 Dundas Street,
London, ON N6B 3E1
Please visit Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre online at: www.soahac.on.ca or like us on www.facebook.com/soahac to learn more about us!
We thank all those for applying but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.